Apparatus for cementing well casings



May 27, l'952 F. H. LEE

APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELL CASINGS Filed Feb. ,24, 1947 Patented May27, 1952 APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELL CASIN GS Francis Hampton Lee, SanPedro, Calif., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., acorporation of California Application February 24, 1947, Serial No.730,345

14 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus adapted to form part of a casing,liner or similar conduit string, and is particularly directed toapparatus of the type embodying side ports which can be opened andclosed to determine the passage of fluids between the interior and theexterior of the apparatus.

An obl' ect of the present invention is to provide side ported apparatusadapted to form part of a casing string, in which the side ports can beboth opened and closed in response to rotation of the casing string in asingle direction without the necessity for longitudinally moving suchcasing string.

Another object Aof the invention is to provide side ported casingapparatus adapted to form part of a casing string, whose ports areopened and closed by sleeve valve means in response to manipulation ofthe casing string, without substantial danger of damaging the sealswhich prevent leakage through the sleeve valve means when it is inclosed position.

This invention has other objects and aspects which will become apparentfrom a consideration of the embodiment shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specication. This form willnow be described in detail, but it is'to be understood that suchdetailed description is not to be taken in a limited sense, since thescope of the invention is best dey ned by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in section and partly inelevation, of an apparatus forming part of a casing string with theparts in port closing position.

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal section of the apparatus with the partsin port opening position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the parts in the position towhich they have been moved to reclose the ports.

As disclosed in the drawings, a collar apparatus A is connected in thecasing string by being attached to upper and lower casing sections B,C'. Although specific reference is made in this description to the useof the invention as part of a casing string, it is to be understood thatthe invention may be installed as a component part of a liner or similarconduit string positioned in a well bore.

The apparatus includes a tubular body I formed of several parts,including a lower main tubular member II threaded into a coupling I2screwed on the lower end of an upper tubular body member I3, whose pinend I4 is attached to the lower end of an upper casing section or collarB. The lower end of the body may be threadedly attached directly to thelower casing section C, or it may be threaded to an interposed swivel D,if desired. Such swivel, in effect, constitutes a lower extension of thebody itself, and includes an outer member I5 having an upper shoulder ISand a lower sleeve Il threaded thereinto to form an internalcircumferential groove I8 in which the upper head I9 of a tubular innerswivel member is received, in order to permit rotation between the outerand inner members I5. 20, but constraining them for conjointlongitudinal movement' in both directions. Leakage between the outer andinner members may be prevented by the provision of suitable side seals2|, as in the form of round rubber seal rings, positioned in ringgrooves 22 in the head I9 and engageable with the base of the groove I8furnished by the outer member I5. It is also to be noted that thethreaded sleeve I l may be prevented from becoming disassembled from theouter member I5 by the provision of a suitable weld 23 integrating thetwo parts.

The body ID is provided with circumferentially arranged inner ports 24adapted to be closed by an outer valve sleeve 25, and also by an innervalve sleeve 26 disposed within an annulus 21 formed between theexterior of the body Il) and the interior of the lower portion of theouter sleeve 25. The inner sleeve 26 is designed to move longitudinallyalong the outer sleeve member 25, but is secured thereto againstrotation by a splined connection in the form of a key 28 welded orotherwise attached to the outer sleeve and received within alongitudinally extended keyway 2S in the inner sleeve 26.

The inner sleeve has internal lefthand threads 3H engaging companionexternal lefthand threads 3| on the tubular body I0 of the apparatus. Itis to be noted, however, that these threads extend only along part ofboth the sleeve 26 and body I0. More specifically, the threads 30 extendupwardly from the lower end of the inner sleeve 26 to a predeterminedextent and are engaged with the external threads 3| extendingintermediate of the distance between the lower end of the annulus 2l andthe inner ports 24. This arrangement is provided, as will be brought out,in detail hereinafter, to permit the inner sleeve to move downwardlyalong the body until the internal and external threads 30, 3I becomedisengaged, the downward movement of the inner sleeve 26 after suchdisengagement being limited by abutting of its lower end with a shoulder32 on the body Ill deiining the lower end of the annulus 2.

The outer sleeve 25 is also threadedly secured to the body l0 above theinner ports 24 by means of external lefthand thread 33 on the bodyengaging a companion internal thread 3Q' on the sleeve.

This threaded connection 33, 34 has a diierent lead from the lead of thethreaded connection 30, 3| between the inner sleeve. 2B and body ld, inorder that relative rotation between the sleeves and body will move thesleeves diierent distances along the body to control passage of fluidsthrough the inner ports 24. As an' example, the lead' of the upperthreaded connection 33, 34 may be one-half the lead of the lowerthreaded connection 38, 3|, resulting in downward movement of the innersleeve 25 twice the distance of the outer sleeve 25 uponrighthandrotation of the body l.

As' indicated, the sleeves: are designed. for longitudinalmovementalongthe body l0 as in a downward direction, upon rotation of the entire;casing string andbody', in order to determine the openingiand closing ofthe. inner ports 24. Such relativey rotation between the outer sleeve 25and body Il!y and' also between; the inner sleeve 2,6 and body,because'of the keyed connection 28, 29 of the inner sleeve to. the outer sleeve,isV determined by a drag device. secured tol the outer sleeve and i.

extending upwardly along the body. Such drag devicefincludesalower drag;collar 3.5, which may bei integral with the outer sleeve25, having longitudinatl grooves 36 in which'` theA lowerends of oui'iwaridi-yw boweddrag springsv 31. are received. '3

Th'e springs are prevented' from becoming* detached from. the dragcollar: 35 by a spring retainer sleeve` t'encompassing: the springs 31and collar' and secured, as by the'` use o welding, ma'.- teriali 33;tothe latter. springs: 3:1 aresecured to an'. upper collarll, slid,-able along the upper body'member'l3', in a similar manner by an. uppersleeve 4l encompassing the collar 40 and springs' 3l, and welded to thecollar 40. These springs are. bowed, outwardly and are adapt-'edf to.engage the. wallI of the well bore in whichv the. casing string ispositioned in. orderl to resist rotation of the outer sleeve 25 and theinner sleeve 26 splined thereto.

rLheL device is assembled' with the; parts occupyingthe positiondisclosed: in Fig. 1, in which the outer sleeve 25 is in an upper:position along the body Ill', and in which the inner sleeve 26. also: isin its uppermost position, with' its inclined head 42 engagingacompanion inclined seat 43 on the 5 outer sleeve, to prevent passage ofiiuids therebetweenalong the inclined contacting surfaces 42, 43. Asassurance; against leakage, a suitable seal ring 44 may bev mounted in.thev seat 43 for engagementwith the head' end of. the. inner valvesleeve; When in such. position, the inner sleeve 2B' is disposed' acrosstheA inner ports 24, leakage between. the body [01, innerv sleeve 25 andouter s1eeve'2-5 being prevented by side seals 45, 46 on opposite sidesof the ports, carried in suitable ring grooves 4T in the body andslidably engageable with both. the outerI and inner sleeves.

The apparatus, with the inner ports 24 closed, is: attached' to theupper and lower casingv sections ByC.; the-swivel D preferablybeingconnected. to the; lower end of the body tofform an extension thereof;Such apparatusr isy thenrun inthe well boreas part of theA casing stringuntil the latter has'been lowered in the bore tot the desired depth.Inthe eventitzisdesired. toV discharge cement from The; upper ends ofthe movement upon rotationy of the body Ill.

. from the shoe, after which it proceeds upwardly through the annulusaround the casing string toward the collar A.

After the lower charge of cement has set and hardened, the. casingstring is rotated to the right from the top of the well bore, whicheffects rotation only of the upper portion of the casing stringattaohedto the. collar A and of the apparatus body Ill, because of theswivel connection D between the body IB and lower casing section C, inorder not to disturb the cement slurry placed behind the lower portion.of the casing string. nasmuchas the `friction' drag; device 35, 3l.Aresists rotation'. ofL the cuter and inner sleeves 25, 25, such rotationproduces a downward feeding oi the: outer sleeve. 215, and also of theinner4 sleeve 2li, alongv the body lzll. by virtue oi the lefthandthreaded connections 33, 3l and 33, 34. However, since the;three-decla.connection 33, 3,4 between the outer sleeve 25 and body lllhas only one-half the lead of the. threaded connection 30,31- betweenthe inner sleeve 23 and body, the latter sleeve. moves downwardly twicethe distance of the outer-'sleeve 25:. Rotation of the casing string andbody a predetermined number of revolutions will dispose thei'nner.sleeve: valve 26 below the inner ports 213i to open., them for the.passage of fluid and permitY suoli fluid toow through` the inner ports24 andout through outerV ports 43 provided inV the; outer sleeveimmediately below its; tapered sea-t t3: (see Fig'. 2). During; suchdownwardmovement of the inner sleeve member 25 to port openingposition., they outer. sleevev 25 has only moved; downwardly from. its:ini-tial positi'onto a, slight extent, or only one-half the distancewhich the innerHval-vemember has moved down,wardly.y The; initiallocationof the. outer sleeve member ports 4B is such as to produceopeningiof the inner sleeve 23 to its fullest extent before the; outer.sleeve 25- can close the inner ports 2d againstpassage ci iii-lids;

A second charge of cement slurry may nowv be pumped downwardly throughthe casing string for. outward passage through the inner and outer ports2d, 48 and, for upward owing'through the annulusaround the casi-ngstring.v Following the ejection of the required amount of the second.charge cf cement slurry, the casing string may again be; rotatedA tovthe rig-ht to produce a. continued downward feeding of the inner sleeve2S and outer. sleeve 25. However, the threads 30, on the inner sleevebecome disengaged. from the body threads 3l, and the former dropsdownwardly to a slight extent until it rests upon the body shoulder 32,which precludes its further downward The outer sleeve valve 25 continuesits downward travel until its inclined valve seat 43 again engages thetapered head S2 at the upper endvof the inner` sleeve- 26, whichleffects a complete closing of the inner ports 24 against flow of fluidsin both directions between the interior and exterior. of the apparatus..When in this position, leakage cannot occur through` the, ports 24 inview of the threeseals furnished by engagement of the upper seal ring Q5'with the outerv sleeve 25, of the lower seal ring 46 with the innersleeve valve 2G, and the longitudinally contacting seal 44 between theouter sleeve 25 and inner sleeve 26.

The apparatus may be used without the lower swivel D in the event thatcement slurry is not discharged from a lower point in the casing string.Under such circumstances, the entire casing string is rotated withoutrotating the inner and outer sleeve members 25, 26, whose turning isresisted by engagement of the drag springs 2l against the wall of theformation. The rotation of the casing'string in the same direction movesthe sleeve members from their port closing position to port openingposition, and then to port closing position once more. The provision ofthe lefthand threaded connections 39, 3l and 33, 34, in order to obtaindownward feeding of the sleeve valves 25, 26, enables the casing stringto be turned to the right, thereby avoiding any tendency for unscrewingof the casing sections at the coupling collars or casing joints.

It is to be noted that none of the seals 44, 45, 45 is moved past any ofthe ports 24, 48, nor are any ports moved past such seals, which motionmight tend to cut the seals and introduce leakage into the apparatus.The side seals 45, 45 on opposite sides of the ports 24 are always inengagement with smooth cylindrical surfaces on the outer sleeve 25 andinner sleeve 26, and the head seal 44 does not move slidably past theports 24,

since it is spaced outwardly therefrom.

The entire apparatus has an internal diameter which is no less than theinternal diameter of the casing string, enabling the usual cementingplugs to be pumped completely through the apparatus when displacing thelower charge of cement slurry from the casing string. It is also to benoted that the outside diameter of the apparatus is little more than thediameter of the usual couplings connecting the various casing sectionstogether, allowing the apparatus to be run in Well bores whose outsidediameter is very little more than the outside diameter of the casingstring itself. It is further to be noted that the drag springs 3l', inaddition to performing their function of resisting rotation of the outersleeve 25 and inner sleeve Z, also act as a centralizer for theapparatus and casing string, centering the casing in the well bore andinsuring the deposition of a uniform body of cementitious materialaround the collar apparatus and casing string.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. Apparatus of the character described, int cluding a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string, said body having a side port,rst and second sleeves on said body for controlling flow of uid throughsaid port, first and second connections between said body and said firstand second sleeves, respectively, for effecting movement of said firstand second sleeves relative to each other longitudinally along said bodyto open and close said port upon relative rotation between said body andsleeves, and means engageable with said sleeves for enabling suchrelative rotation between said body and sleeves to occur.

2. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string, said body having a side port,rst and second sleeves on said body for controlling flow of fluidthrough said port, first and second connections between said body andsaid first and second sleeves, respectively, for effecting movement ofsaid rst and second sleeves different longitudinal distances along saidbody to open and close said port upon relative rotation between saidbody and sleeves, and means engageable with said sleeves for enablingsuch relative rotation between said body and sleeves to occur.

3. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string, said body having a side port,rst and second sleeves on said body for controlling now of uid throughsaid port, rsty and second connections between said body and said firstand second sleeves, respectively, for effecting movement of said firstand second sleeves relative to each other longitudinally along said bodyto open and close said port upon rotation of said body, and means forresisting rotation of said sleeves to enable said body to rotate withrespect to said sleeves.

4. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string, said body having a side port,rst and second sleeves on said body for controlling ow of fluid throughsaid port, first and second connections between said body and said rstand second sleeves, respectively, for effecting move'- ment of saidfirst and second sleeves different longitudinal distances along saidbody to open and close said port upon rotation of said body, and meansfor resisting rotation of said sleeves to enable said body to rotatewith respect to said sleeves.

5. Apparatus of the character described, in'- cluding a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string, said body having a side port,first and second sleeves on said body for controlling now of iiuidthrough said port, rst and second connections between said body and saidfirst and second sleeves, respectively, for effecting movement of saidiirst and second sleeves different longitudinal distances in the samedirection along said body to open and close said port upon relativerotation between said body and sleeves, and means engageable with saidsleeves for enabling such relative rotation between said body andsleeves to occur.

6. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string, said body having a side port,first and second sleeves on said body for controlling flow of iiuidthrough said port, a rst threaded connection between said body and saidfirst sleeve and a second threaded connection between said body andsaidsecond sleeve having a different lead from the lead of said rst threadedconnection, whereby relative rotation between said body and sleeveseffects movement of said sleeves different longitudinal distances alongsaid body to open and close said port, and means engageable with saidsleeves for enabling such relative rota tion between said body andsleeves to occur.

7. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string, said body having a side port,first and second sleeves on said body for controlling flow of fiuidthrough said port, a first threaded connection between said body andsaid first sleeve. a second threaded connection between said body andsaid second sleeve having a diierent lead from the lead of said firstthreaded connection, and means for resisting rotation of saidsleeveswhen said tubular body is rotated, whereby rotation of said body effectsmovement of said sleeves different longitudinal distances along saidbody to open and close said port.

.-Apparatns or the character described, including a tubular body adapted-to form fpartnf a -casing 'string positionable in a well bore, saidbody having a side port, rstand second sleeves onsaid bodyfor-controlling flow of -huid 4through said port, means providingiaslidable splined connection between said sleeves, a iirst threadedconnection between said body and said iirst sleeve-a secondthreaded-connection between said body and said vsecond sleeve having adifferent lead from the lead of said rst threaded connection, and meanssecured to one of said sleeves .and adapted to engage the Wall of thewell bore -to resist rotation of said sleeves, whereby rota-tion of saidbody elects movement of said sleeves diiferent longitudinal distancesalong said body to open and iclose said port.

9. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to formpart of `a casing string, said body having a side port,rst and second sleeves on said body forvcon- .trolling flow of lnidthrough said port, a rst threaded connection between said body and saidfirst sleeve, a second threaded connection between said body and saidsecond sleeve of the same hand as said rst threaded connection buthaving a diierent lead from Athe lead of said first threaded connection,and means for resisting rotation of said sleeves when said tubular bodyis rotated whereby rotation of said body `effects movement -of saidsleeves dierent longitudinal distances along said body to open and close.said port.

l0. Apparatus of the character described, in-

cluding a tubular body adapted to form part oi a .casing string, bodyhaving a side port, ilrst and second sleeves on said body forcontrolling fiow of fluid through said port, .means ,providing aVslidable splined connection between said sleeves, a first threadedconnection between said body and said first sleeve, a second threadedconnection between said body and said second sleeve of the same hand assaid first threaded connection but having a different lead roin the leadof said first threaded connection, and

means for resisting rotation of said sleeves whereby relative rotationbetween said body and sleeves effects movement of said sleeves differentlongitudinal distances along said body to open and close said port.

ll. Apparatus of the character described, in cluding a tubular bodyadapted to formpart of a casing string, said body having a side port, afirst sleeve on said body disposed initially across said port to closethe same, a first threaded connection between said body and said firstsleeve, a second sleeve on said body slidably splined to said iirstsleeve, a second threaded connection between said body and said secondsleeve of the same hand as said first threaded connection but having adifferent lead from the lead of said first threaded connection, andmeans engageable with said sleeves for enabling relative rotationbetween said body and sleeves to first effect relative longitudinalmovement of said first sleeve Aalong said body to port opening positionand then to move said second sleeve along said body to port closingposition.

12. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to forrn part of a casing string positionable in a well bore,said body having a side port, a first sleeve 'on said body disposedinitially1 across said port to Aclose the same, a first threadedconnection between said body and said first sleeve, a second sleeve onVsaidbcnzly -slidably `splined tosaid first sleeve,

'a second threaded,connection betweensaid body `nection,.and meanssecured to said lsecond sleeve and engageable with the wall of the well.bore for resistingrotation of said sleeves, whereby -rotation of saidbody rst -elects longitudinal movement of said .first sleeve along said-body -to port opening position and then moves said second sleeve alongsaid body to port closing position.

13. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form vpartei a casing string positionable in a Well bore,said body having a side port, a rst sleeve on nsaid body disposedinitially across said port to close the same, a iirst threadedconnection between said body and said first sleeve vononeside of saidport, a second sleeve on said body having -a-side port communicable withsaid body port and slidably splined to said fhrst sleeve, a secondthreaded connection between said body and said second sleeve on theother side of said body port, said second threaded connection being ofthe saine hand as said first threaded connection but having a diilerentlead from the lead of said rst threaded connection, and means secured tosaid second sleeve and engageable with the wall of the weil bore forresisting rotation of said sleeves, whereby rotation of said body firsteffects longitudinal movement of said first sleeve along said body tobody port opening position and 'unthreads said nrst sleeve from saidbody toestablish communication between said body port and side port, acontinuation of the rotation-o said body in the same direction thenmoving said second sleeve along said body into engagement with said rstsleeve to close said body port.

14. Apparatus or the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore,said body having a side port, a iirst sleeve onA said body disposedinitially across said port to close the same, a first threadedconnection between said body and said rst sleeve, a second sleeve onsaid body slidably splined to said rst sleeve and having a side portcommunicable withsaid body port, a second threaded connection betweensaid body and said second sleeve of the same hand as said rst threadedconnection but having a different lead from the lead of said rstthreaded connection, and means secured to said second sleeve andengageable with the wall of the well bore for resisting rotation oi saidsleeves, whereby rotation of said body first effects longitudinalmovement of said first sleeve along said body to cody port openingposition to establish communication between said ports and then movessaidrsecond sleeve along the said body to body port closing position.

FRANCIS HAIJIPTON LEE.

iasssasnons errno The following references are of record in the nic ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,037,896 Haines Apr. 21, 19862,214,555 Hayward et al Sept. 10, 1940 2,345,888 Scott Apr. 4, 19442,435,016 Pitts Jan. 27, 1948 2,458,278 Larkin Jan. s, l9=l9

